05/12/2014 - A closer look at the Texans' picks: Round 7/216 - Andre Hal, CB, 5-11, 188, Vanderbilt...Defense is looking for depth a corner. He's a high-character guy who was a team leader in college. Plays hard all the time. Improved ball skills. Lacks speed to turn and run with receivers. Might be better in zone. - The Sports Xchange

04/15/2014 - Five players who should be on the Carolina Panthers' draft radar: CB Andre Hal, Vanderbilt: Carolina has had luck in the past with late round or undrafted free agent cornerbacks, like Captain Munnerlyn who was a 7th round pick in 2009. But Munnerlyn was signed away by the Minnesota Vikings this past off-season and the Panthers need to add depth in the secondary. Hal lacks imposing size or length, like Munnerlyn, but it's easy to appreciate his aggressive, competitive nature when the ball is in the air, showing very good sideline and field awareness. He likely lacks the physical traits to be a consistent NFL starter, but his tough, confident approach to the game would be a welcome addition on the bottom third of the Carolina roster. - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com

01/04/2014 - PLAYERS TO WATCH: Vanderbilt led the SEC in yards per attempt (6.1) and its 14 interceptions were second in the league. Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop often conceded short throws and the Commodores may have lost the Ole Miss game because of that but outside of Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, nobody wanted to take a shot at safeties Ladler and Javon Marshall downfield. CB Andre Hal (second-team All-SEC) was one of the league's best cover corners. - The Sports Xchange

12/11/2013 - 2013 ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DB - Andre Hal, Vanderbilt...For the second consecutive year, Hal ranks second in the conference with 14 passes defended. His 40 tackles also ranks among the top totals by a SEC cornerback. The product of Port Allen, La., a 2012 Associated Press second team All-SEC pick, finished the regular season with 27 solo tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. - Vanderbilt football

12/10/2013 - 2013 ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM: CB - Andre Hal, Vanderbilt, 6-0, 186, Sr,...Hal, was named to the All-SEC second team by the Associated Press after posting 14 passes defended and 40 tackles in his final season in Nashville. Hal's 14 breakups are tied for the most in the SEC, a category he finished second in a year ago. The senior corner from Port Allen, La., finished the regular season with 27 solo tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions in 11 games in 2013. - Vanderbilt football

10/28/2013 - 2014 NFL DRAFT: WEEK 9 STOCK REPORT, NFL PROSPECTS WHO HURT THEMSELVES: CB Andre Hal, Vanderbilt...In my prospect preview last week, I highlighted Hal vs. Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans as one of the top match-ups to watch this past weekend. And while it wasn't all negative for the Vanderbilt corner, Evans got the most of the senior defensive back and two first quarter plays stand out. The first play was a 10-yard in-route that Evans snatched out of the air and then used his powerfully-built frame to shrug off Hal who was attempting to make the tackle. A few plays later, Evans burned Hal for a 43-yard touchdown down the sideline.

The Aggies wide receiver started off the line of scrimmage but slowed and showed some hesitation before turning on the jets and using his long strides to create separation from Hal on the stop-and-go for an easy catch and score. Those two plays bring up two crucial questions when it comes to Hal's NFL future: how strong is he? And how fast is he? Those two answers will come during the pre-draft process, which could ultimately determine his grade. - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com

09/12/2013 - Scouting the Vanderbilt pass defense: Austin Peay threw for just 54 yards on 16 attempts, but the Gamecocks will be a much bigger challenge. Few teams are going after All-SEC CB Andre Hal, and five VU defensive ends (Walker May, Caleb Azubike, Jimmy Stewart, Stephen Weatherly and Kyle Woestmann) all have at least one sack, making the Commodores tough to challenge through the air. - The Sports Xchange

09/07/2013 - Scouting the Vanderbilt special teams: Last week was a borderline disaster in this area for VU. Both Andre Hal and Brian Kimbrow brought out kickoffs they should have downed in the end zone, which resulted in VU starting possessions near its 10 each time. Carey Spear didn't attempt a field goal last week, but did hit all five of his PATs. Expect better this week as Franklin's squads have been solid in most phases of the game during his first two seasons. - The Sports Xchange

09/01/2013 - TOP VANDERBILT PROSPECTS FOR THE 2014 NFL DRAFT: 4. CB Andre Hal (5-11, 186, 4.52)...Taking over a starting role with Casey Hayward moving on to the Green Bay Packers, Hal showed the form to make his former teammate proud, racking up 48 tackles and 14 passes broken up to earn Second Team All-SEC honors by the AP in 2012. Both of his interceptions a season ago came against Tyler Bray and Tennessee's talented receiving corps. Hal's two pick-offs (and the 68 yards he posted in returns) earned him the SEC's Defensive Player of the Week honors (11/17/12) and helped spark the Commodores to a 41-18 rout of the Volunteers.

Considering the number of passes broken up, scouts will want to see more big plays from Hal in 2013. Physically-speaking, however, he looks the part of an NFL cornerback, sporting a well-built frame and possessing light feet, balance and speed. His athleticism led to Hal starting at kick returner for the Commodores in 2011 and he averaged 23.8 yards per attempt, taking one back 96-yards for a score against Georgia. Hal is frequently asked to play off receivers at Vanderbilt. He has a quick, low back-pedal and a smooth turning motion to run with receivers. He's quick out of his breaks and shows a burst and good hand-eye coordination to slap away passes. He possesses the cover skills to potentially shoot up boards as a senior but to do so he must show more aggression as a tackler. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com

08/26/2013 - 2013 PRESEASON ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM (COACHES): DB - Andre Hal, Vanderbilt,...Hal, from Port Allen, La., is the latest in a long line of outstanding Commodore cornerbacks. As a first-time starter in 2012, he collected 16 defensed passes. He also nabbed two interceptions, both coming in Vanderbilt's 41-18 victory over Tennessee. Hal enters the season as the league's active leader in defensed passes. - Vanderbilt football

07/25/2013 - 2013 PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM (MEDIA): DB - Andre Hal, Vanderbilt (69)...Hal has landed on three prestigious watch lists in the past week, becoming a candidate for the Thorpe Award (best defensive back), the Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award (both for national defensive player of the year). A native of Port Allen, La., Hal finished last year second among all SEC defensive backs with 16 passes defended. - Vanderbilt football

07/17/2013 - 2013 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCH LIST: Andre Hal, Vanderbilt, DB...Hal, from Port Allen, La., earned second-team All-SEC recognition in 2012 after starting all 13 games for the Commodores at cornerback and registering 48 total tackles. Hal was also one of the SEC's pass defenders with 14 passes defended in his junior season, including three against N.C. State in the team's win in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.

Hal was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his play in a 41-18 rout of Tennessee, recording two INTs versus Tennessee and totaling 68 return yards to set up Vanderbilt touchdowns. He was one of 16 watch list selections from the Southeastern Conference, the most of any conference. Coming off a 9-4 campaign capped with a victory in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Hal and the Commodores will help kick off the college football season on ESPN for the second straight year when they host Ole Miss on Thursday, Aug. 29. - Vanderbilt football

07/17/2013 - 2013 JIM THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST: S Andre Hal, Vanderbilt...Hal earned second-team All-SEC recognition in 2012 after starting all 13 games for the Commodores at cornerback and registering 48 total tackles. Hal was also one of the SEC's pass defenders with 14 passes defended in his junior season, including three against N.C. State in the team's win in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. - Vanderbilt football

07/17/2013 - 2013 BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: CB Andre Hal, Vanderbilt...Hal becomes the first Vanderbilt player named to the Bednarik watch list since three-time All-SEC linebacker Chris Marve was recognized in 2011. Hal is coming off a stellar season in 2012. Given the task of replacing all-conference recipient Casey Hayward, Hal finished the year second among all SEC defensive backs with 16 passes defended. He posted three pass breakups in Commodore road wins at Missouri and Ole Miss and against N.C. State in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.

Hal also added a pair of interceptions, both coming in Vanderbilt's 41-18 victory over Tennessee. He also proved to be a solid open-field tackler, finishing the year with 36 solo stops and 48 total stops. Hal is also recognized as one of the SEC's top return specialists. He has a career average of 23.4 yards as a kick returner, including a 96-yard touchdown against Georgia in 2011. Hal's longest return last year was 52 yards. - Vanderbilt football

Player News

05/12/2014 - A closer look at the Texans' picks: Round 7/216 - Andre Hal, CB, 5-11, 188, Vanderbilt...Defense is looking for depth a corner. He's a high-character guy who was a team leader in college. Plays hard all the time. Improved ball skills. Lacks speed to turn and run with receivers. Might be better in zone. - The Sports Xchange